External LED Floodlights

[Wright39]

Just a quick one, I bought some external LED floodlights off Ebay.

They had a 200mm 3 core tail hanging out of the unit, so I opened the unit up to replace for a longer cord (i.e. existing wiring) but found that the earth in the unit was not connected to anything nor is there anything for it to connect to. There is purely a earth wire floating around in the casing.

I know this is not safe. Is there any actual requirement for earthing on external floodlights? Can these even be sold in the UK?

If they require I am going to send back.

Dan

 

[PrenticeBoyofDerry]

Look on the casing of the light for class II or the double insulated sign as below

Untitled

• PrenticeBoyofDerry
• 25 Feb 2011
• 14

It may not be a requirement that it is earthed, but I would recommend running an earth to the fitting, just in case one day you replace for one that does require it. This can be connected up in a small connector and left safely.
But check for the above first and what material is the light made of?

 

[Wright39]

No there is no marking like that on there. The unit is made from aluminium.

I have the correct wiring in place as these are replacements for existing.

I could understand if the lights were stated as double insulated but these just seem like cheap crap off the internet.

If there is a earth wire there why is it just floating around the casing. I have two of these and its not just a manufacturing fault.

Dan

 

[PrenticeBoyofDerry]

Is this earth actually connect to the casing of the light, not sure what you mean by floating about?
Picture might help or possibly make/model or link to item purchased. I would assume aluminium casing would require an earth connection, as there are no markings to say otherwise, I would not connect until we have made an informed decision regarding this.

 

[efficiencyman]

I bought 2 of the 30watt LED fittings back last spring, I noted the same, so I crimped on a ring terminal & bolted to the Alu casing. No big deal I still consider their use a big saving over the 500w Tungsten Halogen lamps which kept blowing, as constantly ON / OFF via remote PIR. I am pleased with light output, power consumption, cost and I have not been up the ladder since, both working well !

 

[333rocky333]

when you opened it were the live and neutral connections exposed or somehow inaccesible.
There may be a remote chance that there manufactured so as theres no chance the casing could be come live,
Alternatively is there a seperate earth connection on the bracket or housing you may have overlooked

 

[Wright39]

Here is a picture.

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• Wright39
• 4 Jan 2014
• 1

Dan

 

[bernardgreen]

Designed for minimum cost maximum profit.

In theory that case need not be earthed as the live and neutral go directly to the PSU module for the LED.

In practice if ( or when ) that PSU burns then live wires could come in contact with the metal casing. This would then make the lamp a serious hazard of electric shock.

So either return it as unfit for purpose or connect the earth wire to the case using a corrosion proof fixing.

If there is a flexible joint between lamp and the box then consider an earth bond across that joint as well.

At least the manufacturer was honest enough to not mark it as double insulted.